Environment

Managing the carbon impact of the road marking sector

The RSMA has reviewed the challenge and threats related to global warming and more specifically the carbon reduction commitment requirements placed on RSMA members

In response, the RSMA, supported by Construction Skills developed the Environmental Impact Management Project (E-IMP) under four key development areas:

· Road Markings Operation CO2 Calculator

· Highways Sector Environmental Signpost - a web based information source for all highway operations

· ISO 14000 toolkit for road marking businesses

· Relevant management qualifications for the road marking sector

These development areas will help road marking businesses improve their operations and environmental performance, but will also critically to help clients to achieve their carbon reduction targets

Road Markings Operations CO2 Calculator

The development of a specialist CO2 Calculator for road marking operations was identified by the sector as a priority in favour of existing, calculators available, which are too rudimentary, lack consistency and are not closely allied to developing International Standards

The RSMA calculator has been designed to produce a fully auditable output that may allow clients to see an audit trail

The calculator helps clients:

· Understand the impact of materials

· Quantify the impact of equipment type

· Identify proportionate impact of operational location

· Obtain an better understanding of whole life (environmental) cost

The calculator is subject to advanced development and should be ready for launch by the end of 2011

Other aspects of the E-IMP project

The other principle elements of the E-IMP project that form critical parts of how the roadmarking sector will address its environmental impacts include:

ISO14000 Toolkit – If companies are to improve their environmental performance, the RSMA believes that the introduction of ISO14000 based systems is a must. To make this more accessible for our members, we have developed a toolkit that simplifies the process of developing the required systems and approach. The toolkit is available to RSMA members now

Practical Qualifications – Like ISO 14000, while there are numerous courses available to help develop managers responsible for Environmental management in general industry, there was little focused on the Highways sector and as a result the RSMA have, working with partners, identified what they believe to be the most relevant qualifications and focused them to the highways sector to ensure they deliver the relevant sector information

To date two courses have been adapted that will be delivered through the National Highways Academy (NHA) and are designed to give management the information and the capacity to address their environmental responsibilities. The courses are both accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) one of which will provide successful candidates with Associate membership of the Institute

 

Useful Links

The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. Who  manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and trunk roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

http://www.highways.gov.uk/

The Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board work with the construction industry to deliver a safe, professional and fully qualified UK construction workforce.

http://www.cskills.org/

REMA is the trade association for manufacturers of retroreflective traffic safety products which are used mainly on the highway.  Products provide visual information, day and night, for both permanent and temporary traffic needs.

http://www.rema.org.uk/

The BSI are the UK's national standards organization. Its role is to produce and publish British Standards and information products that promote and share best practice. BSI serves the interests of a wide range of industry sectors as well as governments, consumers, employees and society overall, to make sure that BS British standards, EN European standards and ISO international standards are useful, relevant and authoritative.

http://www.standardsuk.com/

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service is the sole national accreditation body recognised by government to assess, against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services.

http://www.ukas.org/

Published since 1934, Highways magazine is the UK’s only magazine dedicated to the UK highway maintenance and traffic related industries.

http://www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk/

For further information on Construction Design and Management regulations.

www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm.htm 

Chapter 5 and 8 Traffic Signs Manual

http://www.dft.gov.uk